"The real problems come when the government gets involved. In about 99
percent of the cases, when government becomes involved, things get
worse."

Please don't make such provocative statements
without backing them up with evidence. One example I like to use in the
opposite direction is the agricultural extension program from the Department of
Agriculture. Land grant universities were established for the sole purpose of
improving the production of the nations farmers and they have become the most
productive farmers in the world - feeding a good portion of the world and
teaching farmers in other countries better farming practices. The extension
program is a wonderful example of the federal government working with state and
local entities to better our lives.

And while winter weather
conditions cause an unpleasant inversion in geographic conditions like the Salt
Lake Valley, our air quality in most of the country has vastly improved over the
past 40 years primarily because of requirements mandated by the federal
government. Lower emissions from cars and from factories have cleaned our air
and other restrictions have cleaned our waterways. There is still much to do
but much has improved because of the government's involvement.

First of all the letter comes from someone who doesn't live in the
"dirty bowl", and secondly ECR is exactly correct. Through government
action as bad as the air is it's better than it was. It's true on a
bad day you can't see the mountains across the valley. However, take a
look back at the tribune pictures from the early 20th century and you'll
see that on a bad day you couldn't see across the street. So Mr. Bender
you are exactly incorrect. Government action does produce positive results, and
we need to do more...keep protesting folks.

This is epitome of the argument we saw play out last summer at the political
conventions. Is this a country of individuals making their own way or a
collective enterprise? The answer is it both. We are individuals seeking our
own path, but we live in a society that at times requires collective action to
work on problems.

Can we fix our air pollution problem? I don't
think anyone knows that yet, but to ridicule efforts to improve the air is
sophomoric at best. There is no doubt that with the best ideas of many citizens
we can improve things and perhaps even have a breakthrough that would cleanup
the mess once and for all. I say keep pushing to not accept the status quo as
"just the way it is".

Lets do nothing about it but then complain when our health care system is
overloaded with respiratory illnesses. Russel Bender writes nearly every month
denying global warming. He merely just took advantage of this inversion talk to
push his agenda. Which is?

Do nothing. Kick the can down the road and
do nothing. But complain at every turn.

Typical of the GOP and their
almost cult like following today. Can't wait until 2016 where you folks are
going to be beaten down once again.

Temperature inversions may be natural, but pollution isn't. The fact that
the Salt Lake Valley is prone to temperature inversions that trap pollution
makes it all the more imperative to make efforts to clean up the air - not a
reason to dismiss efforts to that end.

I had to laugh - "The government has got to do something about this natural
phenomenon!" Give me a break. Gov. Herbert got it right - the gov't
doesn't have the authority to shut down businesses on bad air days. It
doesn't have the authority to keep us from driving, taxing us for it,
forcing us to ride a bus or train or any other action. It is the consequence of
so many people living in a closed valley. The Los Angeles basin was called the
"Valley of Smokes" by the local Indians because of the inversions and
burning of wood fires. Deal with it. Limit your driving, stay indoors, or
whatever you can do to help. Stop going to the government for everything. More
government=less freedom.

Speaking of Los Angeles, the pollution there is practically non-existent. It
used to be really bad then government intervention happened. It's a heck of
a lot more clean than salt lake city's air. They didn't get there by
sticking their head in the sand and doing nothing.

It's time for
us to put our shoulder to the wheel and fix our air. It can be done. We just
need to have the courage and work ethic to clean up our community. Time to
ignore big business and its's puppets (like this letter writer).

So which is it, Russ? Do you just hate government, which is popular and easy, or
are you too naive and lazy to believe we can do anything about pollution
generation? Or both? Neither requires anything more than throwing pot shots, and
neither should be representative of what America stands for.

When will some of you get off the anti-government thing and realize you are the
government. You elect those that make these calls. You may stop burning wood on
inverted mornings but who will prevent me from doing the same other than duly
elected representatives that we have given that responsibility? Yes, we face a
natural barrier to clean air but to do nothing is irresponsible. These proposals
our neighbors have suggested may or may not work but at least they proposed
something besides sticking their heads in the sand so the local oil refinery can
operate unimpeded. I respect those acting rather than those sitting on the
sideline mockingly pointing fingers.

That's what's hilarious about climate change deniers. So what if we
aren't "causing" the warming? What's wrong with doing THE
RIGHT thing? What's wrong with cleaning things up? Isn't that what
your parents taught you when you were young? The Lord I'm sure would look
down favorably upon those who clean up his creation.

One of the great ironies of life is the label "conservative" used by
people who don't want to conserve anything. Their mantra: "Burn every
drop of fossil liquid so we can choke in our own smoke." I protest their use
of the word "conservative." The real word ought to be
"suicidal."

I think this has to do more with pride and power than what's truly good for
the environment.

The GOP and it's AM radio drinking constituency
would rather go down with the Titanic while refusing to admit that it is
sinkable than admit that they were wrong and hop into a life boat full of
minorities, women, homosexuals, and liberals.

Face it, the GOP
hasn't a leg to stand upon on this issue. Scientists, peer-reviewed
studies, even polls show where America stands on global warming. Yet, the GOP
refuses to acknowledge the truth. In fact, the GOP sits on the WRONG side of
nearly every single issue (abortion, marriage, taxes, environment, entitlements)
as indicated by polls. Hence, why they lost big time in the last election.
However, instead of admitting that they were wrong and need reform, they seem to
rather yell their tired and old message even louder. Thinking that perhaps the
volume, not the actual message, was what did them in a few months ago.

I encourage those on the right to think for themselves for a change.
Extinction is at the door, it's time to reform.

For all you "government haters" out there I have a few things for you to
think about. The "more government means less freedom" lunatics tend to
forget these services.Highways, schools, firefighting, police protection,
FBI, Armed Forces, etc. These are the obvious ones. But how about the other
services the government provides? You can trust that food you purchase
isn't tainted, or rotten or prepared unsafely thanks to the "evil
government", you have access to a court system to seek redress if you are
cheated in business, you have safe drinking water and mostly clean air, the
restaurant you eat in has been inspected for cleanliness, etc..Stop
whining about how much you hate the government and be grateful for all the
services it provides to make your life better and safer.

Mr. Bender states very clearly his purpose for writing this letter in his last
paragraph. Here are his own words.

"The only real point I am
trying to make is that we need to stop going to the government to try to solve
our problems. The real problems come when the government gets involved. In about
99 percent of the cases, when government becomes involved, things get
worse."

1. "...we need to stop going to the
government..."

2. "The real problems come when government
gets involved."

3. "...99 percent of the..." time
government makes "...things get worse."

What a distortion of
the real world. I assume that Mr. Bender includes the government of the USA and
the state of Utah.

If the result of government action is almost
always bad then the foundation must be very suspect also. Major foundations of
state and national governments are their Constitutions. They may need some
additional changes here and there. But they should and do produce basically
good “fruits”. Not 99 percent worse results.

The people
in government are flawed just like you and I, sir. They are NOT 99 percent
crooks, idiots or wolves in sheep’s clothing.

Perhaps a reduction or elimination of fares on public transit lines, both bus
and rail, when there is an inversion would help increase the ridership and
reduce the number of cars on the roads. How about trying it? That is
something that government could do that I think would be worth a try.

Most people won’t voluntarily do anything that affects their lives or
takes them out of their comfort zones because no one thinks that their little
bit of pollution makes a difference. That’s the biggest problem of all,
and that’s why we need strong leadership and government intervention.